Buckle fastener



Sqlt 17, 1940. F. M. RoNc| BUCKLE FASTENER Filed April 20, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l @Kev/7% 627767,74@ JW,

@mlm zgan/ed Patented Sept. 17,- 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUCKLE. FASTENER Fernando M. Ronci, Providence, R. I.

Application April 20, 1938, Serial No. 203,051

9` Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in buckle fasteners, particularly of the type adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles.

My invention particularly relates to the type of buckle fasteners having a relatively stationary pivot bar adapted to be attached to the surface of a relatively flat object and a buckle frame pivotally mounted on said pivot bar so that it may be pivoted .upwards for insertion of an opposite 10 strap end therethrough.

An object of my invention is to provide a buckle of this type in which the pivot bar is so constructed or provided with a suitable covering as to provide a stationary surface for the rigid attachment of said pivot bar or covering to the strap end or article to which the buckle is Aattached thereby permitting the stitching or other means employed to attach said pivot bar or its covering to said article to overlie-said pivot bar or stationary portion without relative movement thereby causing no friction or wear against the article to which the pivot bar is attached.

A further object of my invention is to provide a buckle fastener of this type in which all parts of the buckle which normally contact the object or strap end to which it is attached will remain stationary without tilting on said article during use and for this purpose I provide means projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar, comprising an anchor frame or means, and means projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar to maintain said pivot bar in a stationary position on a strap end or article, which means may comprise a keeper frame for a strap end desired to be inserted through the buckle. In this respect my invention comprises a decided improvement on the structure shown in my said prior application, for the anchor means projecting forwardly from the pivot bar prevents relative tilting movement of the keeper frame on the article and hence friction on the article during use. It has been found out that in use, particularly on shoes, or gloves,l that the play of the foot or hand tends to pull the buckle frame tight and that the end of the strap will often cause a tilting of the keeper frame, and an object of my invention, therefore, is to prevent any pulling of the strap end in use from tilting the keeper frame or any other part of the buckle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a buckle fastener of the general type mentioned above in which the buckle frame may readily pivot on the pivot bar for the insertion of the strap end therethrough with stop means on means such as a keeper frame projecting rigidly rearwardly from the pivot bar to limit the rearward pivotal movement of said buckle frame substantially to a vertical position so that as the strap end is passed underneath and through the raised buckle frame the buckle frame will always be in a position to '5 be pulled down to a flat position against the article or anchor frame in use.`

Further features of my invention relate to the specific construction of the parts of improved embodiments of my invention shown which may vlo be readily stamped or otherwise fabricated from sheet material and readily assembled, particularly in the structure thereof which permits the pivot line of the buckle frame and tongue to be rigidly permanently attached without movement to '15 the article beneath it.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings v which illustrate various embodiments 2O thereof attached to a shoe to function as a shoe buckle.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ladys shoe employing an embodiment of my invention as a buckle for a strap adapted to overlie 25 the instepof a ladys foot. l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of my improved buckle and adjacent parts of the shoe with the shoe strap about tobe inserted through my improved buckle. 30

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the adjacent portion of the foot of the wearer in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a Vertical sectionalview taken on the same section line as that of Fig. 3 after the strap end has been inserted through the raised buckle frame and the buckle tongue inserted through a selected hole in the strap end.

Fig. 5 is `a Vertical sectional view taken on the 'same section line as in Figs. 3 and 4 showing how with my improved construction the tip end of the strap may be inserted underneath the keeper frame which is slightly raised from the plane of the pivot bar.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the same section line as in Figs. 3, l and 5 showing the relative portions of the buckle and shoe in closed interengaging position with the buckle frame pivoting if desired over the anchor frame without touching the shoe as the wearer walks. 50

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View taken along the same section line as Fig. 6 and showing how in the embodiment of my invention shown in my aforesaid application Ser. No. 100,057 the strap end in use will cause relative pivotal movement 55 of the keeper frame and consequent wear on the shoe as the play of the foot on the strap end pulls the buckle tight in use as the wearer walks.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2 and also showing adjacent portions of the foot in dotted lines.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of my buckle showing the stop means formed by the front end of the keeper frame abutting the buckle frame to retain it in a position substantially at right angles to the keeper frame as the strap end is being inserted therethrough.

Fig. 10 is a disassembled perspective View' of the various parts of my invention.

Fig. 1'1 is an enlarged plan view of a different embodiment of my improved buckle and adjacent parts of the shoe. I

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11 generally similar to Fig. 8 and showing the adjacent portions of a foot in dotted lines.

Fig. 13 is a disassembled perspective view of the parts of the embodiment of my invention Shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 11 to 13 in assembled detached position with the buckle tongue removed.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, Ill generally indicates a buckle fastener constructed in accordance with my invention.

While I have shown my improved type of 4buckle fastener employed on a shoe, it is apparent that it may be employed for attaching a strap end to any desired portion of an article of apparel, or for any other use for which a buckle fastener of this type is desired. It is particularly useful, however, with shoes and gloves and I have shown in the attached drawings my improved buckle fastener IIJ employed on a side wall I2 of a shoe upper or on a suitable strap I4 projecting inwardly therefrom over the foot instep I6 for use in detachably securing the strap end I8 projecting upwardly from the opposite side wall 28 ofthe shoe upper to adjustably fasten said strap end I8 within my improved buckle fastener over the instep.

As stated hitherto, my improved buckle fastener is of a type employing a relatively stationary pivot bar 22 adapted to be rigidly non-rotatably attached to the article below it by suitable means such as the stitching 24 shown attaching said pivot bar 22 to the strap end Il! immediately below it, and a relatively pivotable buckle frame 26 pivotally mounted on said pivot bar 22 to pivot to a position substantially at right angles to the plane of the article below said pivot bar 22 so that the opposite strap end I8 may be inserted underneath the outer end 28 of said buckle frame while being attached and detached to my improved buckle fastener. My improved buckle fastener also includes a buckle tongue 36 also pivotally mounted on said pivot bar 22, having an end adapted to be inserted through a selected hole 32 in the strap end I8 so that the end thereof may be forced by the strap end against the end 28 of the buckle frame 26 as usual when in use, said strap end also functioning to pull the buckle frame downwards substantially to the plane in which the pivot bar 22 is attached to the article. While the buckle frame 26 may be of any desired shape it is preferably constructed of the hollow rectangular formation shown with the outer end bar 28 and the side bars 34 and inner pivot bar 36 rigid therewith adapted to overlie said main pivot bar 22. If desired, as shown, a roller 38 may be rotatably mounted on the end bar 28 of said buckle frame 26.

My improved buckle is provided with means projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar 22 which means in my preferred embodiment comprise a strap end keeper frame 48 adapted in use to receive the tip ofthe strap end I8 therethrough to clamp the tip of the strap end I8 against the strap end I or other article to which the pivot bar 22 of my improved buckle fastener is non-rotatably attached. In my preferred embodiment said keeper frame is also preferably rectangular and includes the iiat end bar @32 and the side bars M having the ends thereof suitably secured to the main pivot bar 22. The strap end keeper fr'ame 28 preferably projects rigidly rearwardly from the pivot bar 22 in a slightly higher plane than said pivot bar so that the tip of the strap end I8 may be more readily inserted therethrough without any pivotal movement of the pivot bar 22, to overlie said article or strap end I ll in use. If desired the keeper frame may be additionally bent at an angle from the plane of the keeper bar as at III to provide a structure under which the tip of the strap end may be more readily inserted.

I also provide stop means 46 on the front end of said rearwardly projecting means 48 to limit the rearward pivotal movement of said buckle frame 26, and it is apparent that with the specific lconstruction of keeper frame 40 thus described the front ends "I6 of the side bars 44 thereof being in a higher plane than said pivot bar 22 may function as said stop means, as shown particularly in Fig. 9.

As stated hitherto, a further feature of my invention consists in providing means 58 projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar to function in association with said means or keeper frame hitherto described, projecting rigidly rearwardly from `said pivot bar 22 to maintain said pivot bar 22 in a stationary position on said article against tilting when said pivot bar is once secured thereto by the stitching 24 or other means hitherto described, in my preferred embodiment, said means 58 comprising an anchor frame 58 projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar 22 substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of the article or strap end It in front of said pivot bar. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to said anchor frame comprises an` end bar 52 and the side bars 54 having the rear ends thereof rigidly attached to said pivot bar 22 substantially in the plane thereof. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 11 to 14, however, said anchor frame comprises a loop 56 projecting integrally forwardly from the center portion of said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof.

Any suitable type of means may be employed to pivotally mount the buckle frame 26 on the pivot bar 22. In my preferred embodiment shown, however, the buckle frame 26 is provided with the pivot bar 36 at the inner end thereof rigid therewith adapted to overlie said main pivot bar 22, and I provide hinge strap means 60 centrally slitted as at 62 overlying said main pivot bar 22 and'buckle frame pivot bar 36 shaped to permit relative pivotal movement of said buckle frame bar 36 on said main pivot bar 2,2 so that said buckle frame may pivot from a closed. po-

sition overlying said anchor frameY to an open 75'A position. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 10 said hinge strap means co-mprise a plate 66 partially centrally slitted as at 62 leaving the unslitted portion 64 at the rear end thereof. Said unslitted portion 64 is then located underneath the pivot bar 22 after the buckle frame pivot bar 36 has been laid thereon and the spaced portions 66 of said hinge means are bent upwardly, rearwardly and downwardly to provide the at front walls 68 abutting the front edge of the pivot bar 22. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 11 to 14, however, said spaced strap portions 66 may project integral-ly rearwardly from said pivot bar 22 and may be bent forwardly in substantially tubular formation as shown in Fig. 14 to overlie the pivot bar 36 of the buckle frame 26 and permit pivotal movement thereof from a substantially flat position abutting the flat upper surface of said pivot bar to a substantially vertical position with the side walls 34 of said pivot bar abutting the stopsli on the front ends of said keeper frame side bars 44.y It is obvious that when either embodiment of my invention.

is attached va central sli-t 62 or'62 will be provided in the hinge means so that the looped end 3l of the buckle tongue may beindependently pivotally mounted on said superimposed buckle frame pivot bar 36 and main pivot bar 22 and retained against lateral sway by the side walls of said hinge means portions 66 each side of said slitted portion 62.

It is also obvious that when said portions 66 are bent in tubular formation to overlie the pivot bar 36 that they will remain stationary on the buckle fastener so that the stitching 24- may be permanently fastened thereover thereby securing said pivot bar or hinge portion tu to the strap end cr article i5. without any relative movement between said stitching, hinge portion, pivot bar and article so as to obviate friction and wearat this point. It is apparent that the integral buckle member shown in Figs. 10 and i3 may be readily stamped from flat stock with the strap end keeper frame dii projecting rigidly rearwardly from the pivot bar in a slightly higher plane and with the anchor frame 56 projecting rigidly forwardly from said pvot bar substantially in the plane thereof. It is apparent that the buckle frame 2E and roll 38. may also be readily stamped out of sheet material as well as the separate hinge means 6B when provided, or it is obvious as shown in Fig, 13 that the separate hinge means Sil may be stamped as an integral portion of the stationary buckle member hitherto described to project integrally rearwardly from said pivot bar 22 as the projections 66 shown 'in the same plane thereof in such form that they may be readily bent forward to form the spaced hinge means 66 shown in Fig. lfl.

It is apparent from the above'description that my improved buckle fastener functions in similar manner to buckle fasteners' of the pivoted buckle frame type insofar as the attaching of the opposite strap end is concerned as shown in Figs. 3-6. Due to the specific type of hinge construction 66 employed with a stationary pivot b-ar 22, it is apparent that the pivot bar 22 may be readily attached to the article below it without relative movement or friction therebetween.'

It is also obvious that with the particular structure shown, stop means will be provided on the front end of means, such as the keeper frame 40 projecting rearwardly from said pivot bar to limit the rearward pivotal movement 0f said buckle frame to a plane at right angles to said pivot bar, and it is also obvious that the means projecting forwardly from said pivot bar comprising in my preferred embodiments the anchor frame 52 prevents any relative forward tilting movement of the pivot bar as illustrated in Fig. 7 for former types of buckles, to substantially prevent wear between the keeper frame @il and pivot bar 22 and shoe or other article or material below it. v

It is apparent that due to the fact that the keeper frame 4l) is in la slightly higher plane than the pivot bar 22 that the tip of the free strap end i3 may be more readily inserted underneath the end bar 42 of said keeper frame.

It is thus apparent that I have provided a novel type of buckle fastener constructed of a minimum number of readily formed and as'- sembled parts and with the advantages described above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and .that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, compris-ing a pivot bar, an anchor frame projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of an article, a strap end keeper frame projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar in a slightly higher plane to permit the insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article, a buckle frame, means to pivotally mount said buckle frame on said pivot bar without movement of said pivot bar so that said buckle frame may pivot from a closed position overlying saidanchor' frame to an open position, the front end of said keeper frame providing stop means to limit the rearward pivotal movement of said buckle frame to a substantially vertical position, a buckle tongue, and means to pivotally mount said buckle tongue on said pivot bar to pivot substantially without lateral sway in a single plane and with* out movement of said pivot bar whereby said pivot bar may be permanently rigidly secured to said article against movement in use.

2. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, an anchor frame projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to abut the surface of an article, a strap end keeper frame projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar in a slightly higher substantially parallel plane to permit the insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article with said keeper frame abutting said strap end, a buckle frame, means to pivotally mount said buckle frame on said pivot bar so that said buckle frame may pivot from a closed position overlying said anchor frame to an open position, the front end of said keeper frame providing stop means to limit the rearward pivotal movement of said buckle frame to a substantially vertical position and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

3. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a main pivot bar, an anchor frame projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof adapted to abut the surface of an article, a strap end keeper frame projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar in a slightly higher plane to permit the insertion a buckle frame having a pivot bar rigid therewith overlying said main pivot bar, centrally slitted hinge strap means overlying said main pivot bar and buckle frame pivot bar shaped to permit relative pivotal movement of said buckle frame bar on said main pivot bar so that said buckle frame may pivot from a closed position overlying said anchor frame to an open position, the front end of said keeper frame providing stop means to limit the rearward pivotal movement of said buckle frame to a substantially vertical position, and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar to pivot within the central slit of said hinge strap means whereby attaching means may pass over said spaced relatively solid stationary portions of said hinge strap means to rigidly secure said main pivot bar to said article without movement in use.

4. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a main pivot bar, an anchor frame projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to abut the surface of an article, a strap end keeper frame projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar in a slightly higher substantially parallel plane to permit the insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article with said keeper frame abutting said strap end, a buckle frame having a pivot bar rigid therewith overlying said main pivot bar, centrally slitted hinge strap means overlying said main pivot bar and buckle frame pivot bar shaped to permit relative pivotal movement of said buckle frame bar on said main pivot bar so that said buckle frame may pivot from a closed position overlying said anchor frame to an open position, the front end of said keeper frame providing stop means to limit the rearward pivotal movement of said buckle frame to a substantially vertical position and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar to pivot within the central slit of said hinge strap means.

5. A buckle fastener for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, means projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar and means projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar to maintain said pivot bar in a stationary position on an article, a buckle frame pivotally mounted on said pivot bar, stop means on the front end of said rearwardly projecting means to limit the rearward pivotal movement of said buckle frame, and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

6. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar adapted to be attached to an article, a strap end keeper frame projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar in a slightly higher plane to permit the insertion of a strap end therethrough to overlie said article, a buckle frame, means to pivotally mount said buckle frame on said pivot bar so that said buckle frame may pivot from a closed substantially flat position to an open position, the front end of said keeper frame providing stop means to limit the rrearward pivotal movement of said buckle frame to a substantially vertical position, and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

7. A buckle fastener adapted for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, a strap end keeper frame projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar, a buckle frame, means to pivotally mount said buckle frame on said pivot bar so that said buckle frame may pivot from a closed substantially fiat position to an openposition, the front fend of said keeper frame providing stop means to limit the rearward pivotal movement of said buckle frame to a substantially vertical position, and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

8. A buckle fastener for use with shoes, gloves and other articles, comprising a pivot bar, means projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar, a buckle frame pivotally mounted on said pivot bar, stop means on the front end of said rearwardly projecting means to limit the rearward pivotal movement of said bucklel frame, and a buckle tongue pivotally mounted on said pivot bar.

9. A buckle member comprising a pivot bar rigidly directly securable to an underlying article, an anchor frame having arms projecting rigidly forwardly from said pivot bar substantially in the plane thereof to abut the surface of an under-v lying article, said arms being so spaced from the ends of said pivot bar as to be normally concealed by an overlying strap end in use, and a strap end keeper frame projecting rigidly rearwardly from said pivot bar in a slightly higher substantially parallel plane to permit the insertion of said strap end therethrough to overlie said article with said keeper frame abutting said strap end.

FERNANDO rM. RONCI. 

